Separating device



June 24, 1930. o. B. F'lLKlNs smum'rme navrcs Filed Sept 1. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j I \[W ED /1mm Patented June 24, 1930 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE OSCAR B. FILKINS, OF STANTON, MICHIGAN SEPARATING DEVICE Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No. 216,951.

55 use in mills and elevators to remove bits of iron, steel and other particles of metal from grain before the same passes through the delicate machinery employed in the granulation and pulverization of the grain.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a separating device constructed to provide a hopper within which the grain is passed before entering the various machines and that is equipped with a series of magnets that will attract particles of iron,

steel and other metal, and obviously separate the same from the grain so that such particles of metal will not pass through the machinery.

One of the most important objects of the present invention is to provide a separating device of this character that is of extremely simple construction and inexpensive of operation and one wherein the fiow of the grain therethrough may be regulated at will.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of the invention will be better understood, the same comprises the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved separating device.

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevation, the magnet un1t protector unit being disclosed in open position, and

Figure is a perspective of one of the horseshoe magnets employed in conjunction with the present invention.

Now having particular reference to the drawings, my novel separating device consists of'a relatively square shaped hopper 5, preferably of wood, and being but threesided as disclosed more clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

Within the bottom of this hopper there is disposed horizontally a block of wood 6 that terminates at its forward edge within the front side of the hopper and that is beveled as clearly disclosed in Figure 2. This block 6 is formed with horizontally extending cut outs having spaced relation with each other and within which are snugly disposed ten inch horse shoe magnets 7, the ends of the legs of which terminate flush with the front vertical edges at the side walls of the hopper as disclosed in Figure 2. The side walls of the hopper 5 as well as the back wall above the block 6 are lined with copper, the strip of the copper at the back wall thereof being extended forwardly'in position above the block 6 and magnets 7. The front beveled edge of the block 6 is also lined with copper, as disclosed that portion of the lining upon the beveled edge of the block being provided with openings through which the legs of the magnet 7 extend. This copper lining is designated by the reference character 8 and serves as .a protection to the non-metallic material from which the hopper and magnet carrying block 6 is constructed.

Extended horizontally through the block 6 and the side walls of the hopper 5 as well as between the legs of the magnets is a bolt 9, headed at one end and threaded at the other end for receiving a nut 10, this obviously serving to secure the block within the hopper and for retaining the magnets within the block.

In actual practice the grain is adapted to flow into the hopper in the manner as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. It will be necessary that the grain flows between the ends of the magnets-projecting beyond the block 6 and obviously any particles of iron or steel within the grain will be attracted by the magnet and stick thereto so that the grain flowing from the separator will be free of such particles.

In order to regulate the amount of grain passing through the hopper there is arranged horizontally between the side walls at the forward and upper edge thereof a bolt 11 upon which is pivotally mounted a gate 12. One end of this bolt 11 is headed, while threaded upon. the opposite e d thereof is a Wing nut 13 which when tightened will so compress the side walls of the hopper as to secure the gate in predetermined swung position therein.

In order to prevent the discharge of "the magnetic force within the magnet 7 when the device is not in use, there is hinged as at 13 to the forward edge of either one of the hopper side walls the flattened end of a metallic tube 14 which metallic tube is provided at its front face with countersunk metallic strips 15 similar in number to the number of the magnet 7 and adapted to bridge the legs of the magnets when the tube is swung into horizontal position across the front side of the hopper. In order that these strips 15 may engage the magnets the forward edges of the hopper side walls are provided with notches 1616. For securing the tube in position away from the magnet when the device is in use, the side wall of the hopper to which the tube is connected is provided adjacent its rear edge with a suitable clip 17 i which will receive the tube when the same is swung rearwardly. 7

It will thus be seen that I have provided a highly novel, simple and extremely efficiently operating magnetic separator for use in the separating of particles of iron, steel and other metals from grain prior to the passage of the same into the various machines employed in mills, granaries and the like.

Even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting of certain detail structural elements, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without affecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a magnetic separator of the character described, a hopper open at its top, bottom and front sides, a plurality of spaced horizontally extending magnets arranged within the lower portion of the hopper, and spacing means between the magnets, said spacing means terminating inwardly of the outer ends of the said magnet to permit the material to be separated to pass between the end portions of the magnets.

2. In a magnetic separator of the character described, a hopper open at its top, bottom and one side, a plurality of spaced horizontally extending magnets arranged within the lower portion of the hopper, and spacing members interposed between the said magnets and terminating inwardly from the outer end portions thereof, the inwardly terminating ends of the spacing members being bevelled.

3. In a magnetic separator of the character described, a hopper open at its top, bottom and one side, a block arranged within the open bottom of the hopper, said block being formed with a plurality of spaced slots, a plurality of horse-shoe type magnets arranged within said slots so that their ends project beyond the block and toward the open side of the hopper, and means for securing said D magnets in place, said rack and projecting ends of the magnet forming a bottom for the hopper.

4. In a magnetic separator of the character described, a hopper open at its top, bottom and one side, a block arranged within the open bottom of the hopper, said block being formed with a plurality of spaced slots, a plurality of horse-shoe type magnets ar ranged within said slots so that their ends project beyond the block and toward the open side of the hopper, means for securing said magnets in place, said means consisting of an elongated member disposed through the opposite sides of the hopper, through the block and magnets, and means on the member whereby the side walls may be clamped against the block, the block, in turn being compressed by the side walls to frictionally hold said magnets, said rack and projecting ends of the magnet forming a bottom for the hopper.

OSCAR B. FiLKINs. 

